News and Resources

Arbor Day is more than just planting trees -
May 1, 2014

Throughout history, humans have had a profound connection to trees.
Whether it be the Baobab trees in Madagascar to the Giant Sequoias in
the U.S. Pacific Northwest, trees have always captured our imagination
and interest. So it should come as no surprise that there is an
international holiday dedicated to planting, educating about and
enjoying our trees: Arbor Day.

Arbor Day was invented by J.
Sterling Morton, a journalist-turned-politician who helped settle
Nebraska and had a true love for nature. Morton knew trees were
important to the Nebraska settlers, not just for environmental purposes
but to serve as windbreakers, fuel for fires, shade providers, building
materials and more.

Morton first proposed the idea of Arbor Day to
raise awareness about trees and to help mitigate damage done by
logging. The first Arbor Day was held April 10, 1874, and by 1885, was
recognized as a legal holiday in Nebraska to be celebrated April 22,
Morton’s birthday.­

Arbor Day is a national and international
event, with millions of people worldwide planting trees, doing nature
hikes and, in general, celebrating nature. In the United States,
National Arbor Day is officially held the last Friday in April. Many
states have their own Arbor Day festivities during peak tree planting
seasons. In Maryland, Arbor Day is celebrated the first Wednesday in
April.

Internationally, Arbor Day celebrations take place
year-round. The United Kingdom celebrates more than just Arbor Day, they
celebrate National Tree Week at the start of tree planting season in
November. China celebrates Arbor Day, or “Tree Planting Day,” as a
national public holiday on March 12. In Canada, Maple Leaf Day, the
Canadian equivalent of Arbor Day, falls on the last Wednesday in
September during National Forest Week. And in Germany, Arbor Day or “Tag
des Baumes,” is celebrated April 25.

Arbor Day is more than just a
day to go out and plant trees. It is a day to appreciate all the
wonderful benefits trees provide not only us, but other animals and
plants, as well.

Some of the environmental benefits that trees provide include:

•
One acre of forest can absorb up to 6 tons of carbon dioxide and can
put out 4 tons of oxygen. This is enough oxygen to meet the annual needs
of 18 people.

•
A healthy tree can store 13 pounds of carbon each year, for an acre of trees that equals 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide.

•
Trees help settle out and trap dust, pollen and smoke from the air. The
dust level in the air can be as much as 75 percent lower on the
sheltered side of the tree compared to the windward side.

•
Trees help reduce surface water runoff from storms, which decreases
soil erosion and the accumulation of sediments in streams. They also
increase ground water recharge and reduce the number of potentially
harmful chemicals transported to our waterways.

•
Trees help cool the air, land and water with shade and moisture, which
reduces the heat-island effect from urban communities. The temperature
in urban areas is often 9 degrees warmer than in areas with heavy tree
cover due to less shade and heat being reflected or held by paved
surfaces.

•
The net cooling effect from one young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-sized air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.

Apart
from the numerous environmental services that trees provide, they also
have a multitude of personal, social and communal benefits, such as:

•
Color, flowers, fruit and interesting shapes and forms to look at. They
can help to screen unattractive views, and soften the harsh outline of
masonry, metal, asphalt, steel and glass in cities and urban areas.

•
Trees can also separate and define space thus providing a sense of
privacy, solitude and security, and create a feeling of relaxation and
well-being, even in urban areas.

•
Sound waves are easily absorbed by tree leaves and branches. A belt of
trees 100 feet wide and 45 feet high can help to reduce highway noise by
up to 50 percent.

•
Trees can be a stimulus to economic development, attracting new
business and tourism. Commercial retail areas are more attractive to
shoppers, apartments rent more quickly, tenants stay longer, and space
in a wooded setting is more valuable to sell or rent.

•
Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value.

Trees
provide us with a plethora of benefits, without having to spend money
on expensive manmade devices or machines. Trees are easier to maintain
than their manmade counterparts and even when they die, they are still
useful as fallen logs and mulch. By planting trees now, we can ensure
future generations will continue to enjoy these, and many other,
benefits.

Harrison Jackson is the Coastal Stewards coordinator for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.